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Mr Alan Kyeremanten, a leading member of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) has appealed to Ghanaians to live in peace and harmony as the country moves towards the presidential and parliamentary election this year.

“Whatever our political affiliation, we need peace to prevail to enable us go about our daily activities as we prepare for the elections in November,” Mr Kyeremanten said as he addressed a watch night service at the St Cyprians Anglican Church in Kumasi to usher in the New Year, when he was invited by the Bishop of the Kumasi Diocese and Province of West Africa of the Anglican Church, Rt. Rev Dr Daniel Yinka Sarfo to say a word.

Mr Kyeremanten, popularly referred as Alan Cash pointed out that he was invited to talk to the church because he was baptised and has remained a member of the church.

He explained that “if we all recognised the rights of each other and appreciated that no vote or voter is more important than the other, we will appreciate the tenets of democracy and respect the choices of people to avoid unnecessary conflicts and violence that characterise elections in some parts of the African continent.”

Mr Kyeremanten noted that if Ghanaians recognised elections as a means of selecting leaders for the country, there will be no need for violence and that everything would be done to ensure that all voters cast their ballots freely and fairly, to give meaning to the principle of one man one vote.

He charged Christians to at all times recognise the importance of God and Jesus Christ and let that guide them in whatever they do so that they would demonstrate fellow-feeling towards lone another to ensure peace and social harmony.

A number of the congregants who expressed ill-feelings when Mr Kyeremanten was invited to speak because of the political implications expressed deep relief and commended him for showing a deep sense of nationalism and patriotism.

They expressed the hope that politicians will always be guided by the national interest in their campaigns and act in ways that will unite the people rather than divide them “since we are one people with a common destiny.”